ClueBy
TodayArchiveWord list

Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
YesNo
↻ New worksheet

Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  2. We're almost out of ________________.
  3. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  4. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  5. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  6. This piece is in a major ________________.
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  9. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  10. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  11. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  12. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  13. You don't need to ________________ round.
  14. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  15. How do you ________________ your surname?
  16. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  17. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  18. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  23. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  24. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. pop — music
  2. pop — soda
  3. toast — the most admired
  4. file — a line of people
  5. file — a document
  6. key — in music
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. mark — to pay attention
  9. spell — magic
  10. perch — the fish
  11. perch — for a bird
  12. file — a tool
  13. pop — to visit
  14. key — for a lock
  15. spell — letters
  16. perch — for a bird
  17. key — the most important part
  18. spell — a short time
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. mark — a grade
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. toast — bread
  23. toast — a drink to someone
  24. mark — a trace

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com